1 Rising Projectile

Equation 1 gives the acceleration of a rising projectile considering air resistance

proportional to v 2 .
a = g − kv 2 (1)
Equations for velocity and height can be found given this equation for acceler-
ation, by first solving this differential equation to find the equation for velocity,
and then integrating the equation for velocity to find height.

1.1 Velocity
To start, we can simply write acceleration as the derivative of velocity with
respect to time. It will also be useful to express g as −g, where g is positive
instead of negative. This gives equation 2.
dv
= −g − kv 2 (2)
dt
dt 1
Given that dv = dv :
dt

dt 1
=
dv −g − kv 2
Now, integrating both sides with respect to v and rearranging slightly:
Z Z
dt 1
dv = dv
dv −g − kv 2
Z
1
t+c= dv
−g − kv 2
Z
1
−t − c = dv
g + kv 2
a
Now, rearranging such that the right hand side is in the form v 2 +a2 , which can
be integrated to tan−1 av

Z
1
k (−t − c) = dv
v 2 + kg
r Z pg
g k
· k (−t − c) = dv
k v 2 + kg
s !
p −1 k
gk (−t − c) = tan v +d
g

1
Rearranging, an equation for v in terms of t can be reached:
s !
−1 k p p
tan v + d = − gkt − gkc
g
s !
k p p
tan−1 v = − gkt + a where a = − gkc − d
g
s
k  p 
v = tan − gkt + a
g
r
g  p 
v= tan − gkt + a
k

The initial velocity v0 of the rising rocket can be used to solve for a, and sub-
stitute back into the equation.
r
g  p 
v0 = tan − gk · 0 + a
k
r
g
v0 = tan (a)
k
s !
−1 k
a = tan v0
g
r s !!
g p −1 k
v= tan − gkt + tan v0
k g

Now, substituting in the values of g = 9.800 m s−2 , k = 1.990 × 10−2 m−1 , and
v0 = 37.70 m s−1 , the final equation is obtained.
!!
√
r r
9.800 −1 0.01990
v= tan − 9.800 · 0.01990t + tan · 37.70
0.01990 9.800
v = 22.19 tan (−0.4416t + 1.039) (4 significant figures)

2
1.2 Height
To find height, we start with the equation for velocity, writing it instead as
the derivative of height with respect to time, and then integrate to find height.
Pronumerals will be used in place of constants for clarity.
r
g  p 
v(t) = tan − gkt + a
k
r
dh g  p 
= tan − gkt + a
dt k
Z Z r
dh g  p 
dt = tan − gkt + a dt
dt k
Z r √

g sin − gkt + a  p 
h= · √
dt Let u = cos − gkt + a
k cos − gkt + a
Z r
1 g 1 p  p 
h= √ · du du = gk sin − gkt + c dt
gk k u
Z
1 1
h= · du
k u
1
h = ln |u| + b
k
1   p 
h = ln cos − gkt + a  + b

k
√

Given that cos − gkt + a is always greater than or equal to zero for the
domain of h, the absolute value is not required. An initial height of zero can be
used to solve for the constant c2 .
1   p 
h = ln cos − gkt + a + b
k
1   p 
0 = ln cos − gk · 0 + a + b
k
1
b = − ln (cos a)
k
Substituting back into the equation we have:
1   p  1
h= ln cos − gkt + a − ln (cos a)
k k
Now, substituting values for g, k, and c, the final function h(t) is obtained. This
function has the same restricted domain as v(t) for the rising rocket.
1   √  1
h= ln cos − 0.01990 · 9.800t + 1.039 − ln (cos 1.039)
0.01990 0.01990
h = 50.25 ln (cos (−0.4416t + 1.039)) + 34.11 (4 significant figures)

3
2 Falling Projectile
.

2.1 Velocity
Equation 3 shows the equation for the acceleration of a falling projectile. The
only point of difference from that of a rising projectile is that the kv 2 term is
positive, because air resistance acts upwards instead of downwards.
a = −g + kv 2 (3)
The process for solving is initially the same as the rising case: Take the reciprocal
of both sides, integrate, and rearrange slightly.
dv
= −g + kv 2
dt
dt 1
=
dv −g + kv 2
Z Z
dt 1
dv = dv
dv −g + kv 2
Z
1
t+m= dv
−g + kv 2
Z
1
−t − m = dv
g − kv 2

Now, factoring the right hand side denominator as a difference of two squares:
Z
1
−t − m = √ √  √ √  dv
g − kv g + kv

Partial fraction decomposition can be used to simplify the left hand side.
1 A B
√ √  √ √ =√ √ +√ √
g + kv g − kv g + kv g − kv
√ √  √ √ 
1=A g − kv + B g + kv
r r
g g
Let v = − Let v =
k k
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
1 = A ( g + g)) + B ( g − g)) 1 = A ( g − g)) + B ( g + g))
√ √
1 = 2 gA 1 = 2 gB
1 1
A= √ B= √
2 g 2 g
1 1 1
=⇒ √ √  √ √  = √ √ √  + √ √ √ 
g + kv g − kv 2 g g + kv 2 g g − kv

4
Continuing, the right hand side can now be integrated directly.
Z
1 1
−t − m = √ √ √  + √ √ √  dv
2 g g + kv 2 g g − kv
1 √ √  1 √ √ 
−t − m = √ ln  g + kv  − √ ln  g − kv  + m
 
2 gk gk
A new constant of integration c = c1 − c2 can be defined, and the equation
rearranged:
r s ! s !!
1 g k k
· ln 1 + v − ln 1 − v = −gt + c
2 k −g −g
 q 
1 + kg v
s
p k
ln  q  = −2 gkt + 2 c
1 − gvk g
q
1 + kg v
s !
p k
q = exp −2 gkt + 2 c
1− k
v g
g

The function exp (x) = ex has been used

q for clarity. A new constant of integra-
k
tion can again be defined, C = exp 2 g c .
q
k
1+ gv √
q = Ce−2 gkt
k
1− gv

Continuing to rearrange:
s s
k √ k √
v = Ce−2 gkt − v · Ce−2 gkt − 1
g g
s
k  √  √
v 1 + Ce−2 gkt = Ce−2 gkt − 1
g
√
g Ce−2 gkt − 1
r
v= · √
k Ce−2 gkt + 1

5
For the case of the falling rocket, the initial velocity is 0 m s−1 . This can be
used to solve for C.
√
g Ce−2 gk·0 − 1
r
0= · √
k Ce−2 −gk·0 + 1
r
g C −1
0= ·
k C +1
0=C −1
C=1
√
g e−2 gkt − 1
r
∴ v= · √
k e−2 gkt + 1

Now, substituting in the values of constants, again g = 9.806 65 m s−2 and

k = 7.757 00 × 10−2 m−1 , the final equation is obtained.
r √
9.80665 e−2 9.80665·0.07757t − 1
v= · √
0.07757 e−2 9.80665·0.07757t + 1
e−1.744t − 1
v = 11.24 · −1.744t
e +1

6
2.2 Height
The process for solving the falling case is initially similar to the rising case -
integrate the function for velocity to find height:
√
g e−2 gkt − 1
r
v= · √
k e−2 gkt + 1
√
g e−2 gkt − 1
r
dh
= · √
dt k e−2 gkt + 1
r Z −2√gkt
g e −1
h= −2
√ dt
k e gkt +1
This fraction can be split apart. The first part can be integrated easily, and a
u-substitution can be used to integrate the second.
r Z −2√gkt
g e +1 2
h= −2
√ − −2√gkt dt
k e gkt +1 e +1
r Z Z 
g 1
h= 1 dt − 2 −2
√ dt
k e gkt +1
r r Z
g g 1 √
h= t−2 −2
√ dt + c1 Let u = e−2 gkt + 1
k k e gkt +1
p √
du = −2 gk · e−2 gkt dt
1
dt = √ du
−2 gk (u − 1)
r r Z
g g 1 1
h= t−2 · √ du + c1
k k u −2 gk (u − 1)
r Z
g 1 1
h= t+ du + c1
k k u (u − 1)

Now, using partial fractions:

1 A B
= +
u (u − 1) u u−1
1 = A (u − 1) + B (u)
Let u = 0 Let u = 1
1 = −1A + 0B 1 = 0A + 1B
A = −1 B=1

1 1 1
=⇒ = −
u(u − 1) u−1 u

7
Continuing, the integral can be evaluated directly:
r Z
g 1 1 1
h= t− − du + c1
k k u−1 u
r
g 1
h= t − (ln |u − 1| − ln |u|) + c1 + c2
k k
r
g 1   −2√gkt   √ 
h= t− ln e  − ln e−2 gkt + 1 + c where c = c1 + c2
 
k k

Because ex is strictly positive for x ∈ R, the absolute value bars are unnecessary.
Continuing to rearrange:
r  √
g 1 p 
h= t− −2 gkt − ln e−2 gkt + 1 + c
k k
r r
g g 1  √ 
h= t−2 t − ln e−2 gkt + 1 + c
k k k
r
g 1  √ 
h=− t − ln e−2 gkt + 1 + c
k k